makes me embarrassed to be a fan of any Chicago team most of the time. They serve up these stories to basically justify the mouthbreather’s fucking rediculous viewpoints. I understand that their job is to write “compelling & thought provoking” stories, it’s the fact that there are obviously so many completely clueless and idiotic fans out there to cater to who are stating their dumbass opinions to anyone who will listen.

I’m at the point now that if I’m listening to talk radio or watching the news and the Hawks come up I immediately turn that shit off. Ok, end of my rant.

…and his main thesis is wrong. The Nucks did not get the Hawks out of their game. They played good hockey and beat the Hawks. This will happen sometimes, particularly with good teams.

And I don’t know what to make of this stray comment:

“It’s both mind-boggling and somewhat reassuring that the Hawks are a first-place team. "

…other than that Rosie has a mind that is easily boggled.

Keep calm and carry on, people.

Since Hossa is replacing Havlat, and is out, we are effectively missing our leading scorer, experiencing goaltending issues, and have had a lackluster power play.

And we’re 5-3-1, blowing a 3rd period lead to prevent us from being 6-2-1.

I know I’m a broken record, but I just don’t get the angst everyone has. It’s early. We’re in good shape. Relax.

They have what it takes and then some. They just need to get their shit together. And they’ve shown us many times they can do that.

Where were the goons when the Wings were skating and hustling there way to Stanley cups?Stupid statement Tim.When Hossa is back he will be back-pedeling on those statements.All is well GO HAWKS!!!!

Guy played in ann Arbor when I went to Michigan State, the stats on him are very overrated.

Scored against the Alaska-Fairbanks, Bowling Green, Nebraska-Omaha types and rarely against the Michigan State, Notre Dame, Northern Michigan, Championship caliber East Coast Schools.

He is great against sub-par talent at a college level, and padded his stats that way.

Drop the gloves, he will not, and if he does it could look worse than hugging match we all saw at the UC last night ( I love VERSTEEG!, but never want to ever see him fight, his bravery is a big plus)

at jeff lerg (5’6), the goalie for MSU, he has grit and guts againt smaller weaker guys, bottom line this guy will bring nothing to the table…

Some of the nonsense that was being spouted on that show…sheesh.

David Kaplan declared that there was no way the Hawks would win the Stanley Cup with Huet as their goalie, and that they needed to trade for a better one. Teddy Greenstein was the voice of reason: “And where are they going to get this top-of-the-line goalie? What team is going to trade a guy like that?”

Kaplan said, “They’d have to make an offer that team couldn’t refuse.”

Greenstein was almost rolling his eyes. Kaplan really sounded like some of the idiots who come up with those “let’s trade these crappy guys on our team for that awesome guy on the other team” kind of trades.

these Kaplan’s of the world really didn’t follow Hockey in Chicago untill the rise of the Hawks so they are only shooting their mouth to make a statement that people want to here, but they are not thinking of the logic and reality of the NHL. They use the same aspect of football and baseball. Its alot different in Hockey.

….to the local media coverage idiocy is a healthy step.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict a continuous stream of useful fodder from this direction throughout the year. If the Hawks make a run for the Cup, it’ll become comically obscene, and set the stage for some seriously entertaining out-and-out fisking.

The thought of someone that would be willing to drop the gloves game in and game out is very appealing to me, because I like seeing grown men punch each other in the face. However when you bring someone like that on chances are they are not going to be productive in any other areas. I don’t think the hawks can afford that crutch on any of thier lines. Especially the 4th line which is not playing well.

I say we make sopel fight. Better him than versteeg. Sopel also really can’t get any uglier if he takes a few shots in the face either.

As far as roosenbloom…I didn’t read it because I don’t really care what he has to say.

I do agree that us alpha men like seeing other alpha men beat each other up. I cannot deny a passion to see players with the attitudes of Dave Manson, Wayne Van Dorp, Mike Peluso and Stu Grimson make a return to our team.

Sadly, that era of hockey has all but been outlawed. And apparently, even attempts to strike back in retaliation for vicious hits (clean or not) are quickly and sometimes disproportionately put down by the officials. They loosen up a little in the post-season, but not much.

However, I think the issue of “toughness” in the case of the Hawks lies not in a reincarnation of the Grim Reaper and the willingness to drop the gloves. Rather, it lies in the ability to win the puck/not lose the puck on the boards. This is where both sides of the blue line show their weakness at times with the Hawks.

A return of pure goon mentality is more likely to spawn endless stretches of penalty kills, which in the final analysis of the Nucks game, is likely the single biggest reason why the Hawks lost, and not being penalized may even be a silent but significant contributor to our successes this year.